Political prisoners everywhere around the world deserve our attention, and today is International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus.
Reputable human rights organizations estimate that there are some 850 political prisoners still in Belarus. They endure harsh treatment and are being held in appalling conditions. While several hundred have been released over the past year thanks to the efforts of U.S. special envoy John Coale and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Smith, others are arrested and take their place. Many suffer every day. Some never make it out alive.
That tragically was the case for Vitold Ashurak, the Belarusian activist who died in prison in 2021 after being severely beaten. He was a victim of Aliaksander Lukashenka, who through brute force, stolen elections, and support from Moscow has been in power for 32 years – 32 years! that’s longer than Vladimir Putin.
Lukashenka blatantly stole his country’s election in 2020 from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya after which he launched a brutal crackdown against his own people. He is an illegitimate leader who does not deserve rewards for undoing bad things that he did in the first place.
Lukashenka has weaponized refugees and asylum seekers. He forced down a civilian airliner in 2021 flying over Belarusian territory in search of a blogger on board who had criticized him, endangering all passengers and crew.
He sends large balloons into the airspace of other countries to cause chaos. And he has the blood of Ukrainians on his hands for allowing Russian troops to use Belarusian territory to launch the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Lukashenka has played Russia and the West off of each otherfor decades. At the same time, he would no longer be in power were it not for Russia’s vital support, and so he will always be beholden to Putin. Trying to lure him away from Moscow simply won’t work. Just this week, Belarus joined Russia in annual nuclear weapons exercises.
It is commendable when people who should not be in prison are released. But in many cases, the individuals released are not allowed to remain in Belarus and are forced to go to other countries.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarus’ truly elected leader from the 2020 election, was herself expelled from the country the next day. She continues to lead the democratic forces from outside of Belarus. Grateful for the efforts to secure the freedom of those in prison who don’t belong there, Tsikhanouskaya has called for the release of all political prisoners, an end to political persecution, and safe conditions for Belarusians in exile to return home. She and the people of Belarus, including those who continue to languish in prison, are the ones whom we should support, not Lukashenka.
